A TOWN centre chippy that was found to be infested with flies and slugs is back in business – days after horrified inspectors shut in on the spot.

Ponty Fish Bar on Taff Street, Pontypridd, was shut down by environmental health officers when they discovered a catalogue of horrors.

The well-known chip shop had already been subject to increased visits and inspections by Rhondda Cynon Taf officers.

Food health and hygiene experts who were undertaking their regular, daily inspection work, found food stored in filthy freezers and other storage areas as well as dangerously poor temperature control of high-risk foods.

There were fly infestations and slugs on the drums used to store chip cooking oil as well as generally dirty conditions. The inspectors could not find any cleaning products on site.

But the business is once again trading this week, and a member of staff told the Observer that health officers had given them the green light to reopen.

A spokeswoman for Rhondda Cynon Taf council said the premises was allowed to reopen after staff carried out an immediate deep clean and removal of rodents and other health hazards.

She added: “The council can confirm that the food business operator of Ponty Fish Bar, Miss Farkhandah Jabin, contacted the council’s Environmental Health Officers on September 13, 2011 requesting an inspection to reopen the premises.

“An officer visited the premises on September 14 and was satisfied that the requirements placed on the premises had been met and that the imminent risk had been removed.

“The refuse had been removed, the infestation of flies had been cleared and the premises had undergone a thorough deep clean and disinfection.

“The council’s Environmental Health staff will continue to scrutinise these premises by carrying out regular inspections to ensure that the required standard is maintained and also provide one-to-one coaching to support the development of a satisfactory food safety management system.

“This will not preclude further legal action against the food business operator for the food hygiene offences already committed.”

But customers remained cautious this week.

One dad from the Graig, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I drove through the town to see it had reopened already.”